Information reading apparatus, camera capable of exchanging signals with the information reading apparatus, and memory medium

ABSTRACT

A camera capable of communicating with an information reading and transmitting apparatus comprises a detector for detecting a signal output from the information reading and transmitting apparatus. A memory prestoring therein a plurality of programs for effecting a plurality of camera operations, a selector for selecting a particular program from among the plurality of programs on the basis of the result detected by the detector and a controller for controlling the camera operations on the basis of the particular program selected by the selector.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a memory medium, an information readingapparatus for reading information from said memory medium, and a cameracapable of exchanging signals with said information reading apparatus.

2. Related Background Art

Heretofore, in program AE, the values of shutter speed and aperture havecorresponded to an EV value at one to one. However, depending on thepurpose of photographing and the object to be photographed, it issometimes more desirable to choose a particular shutter speed (oraperture value). For this reason, there have been proposed camerashaving a plurality of program charts and used with the charts changedover (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,616,916, U.S. Pat. No.4,536,074, U.S. Pat. No. 4,525,054, etc.).

However, depending on the purpose of photographing, it has sometimesbeen difficult to judge which chart should be chosen. For example, whenthe close-up of a flower is to be taken, if it is directed to the use asa record, it is more desirable to stop down the aperture as much aspossible and make the depth of field deep, and if it is directed to theexpression of the beauty of the flower, it is often more desirable tomake the depth of field shallow. To judge this, it is necessary to knowwhat effect the aperture gives a photograph. Also, the depth of field isgreatly varied by a lens and therefore, it is also necessary to know theeffect thereof.

Also, in the prior art, the provision of a variety of program charts hasnecessitated the provision of display means and input means for thechange-over thereof, and this in turn has led to the problem thatdisplay and manipulation become more complex than in the case of asingle program.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of this invention is the provision of a camera capable ofexchanging signals with an information reading apparatus which readilyenables any person having no knowledge of photography to accomplishadequate photographing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bar code list and a code readingapparatus and a front view of a camera.

FIG. 3 illustrates examples of photograph and bar code portions.

FIG. 4 shows the correspondence between bar codes held in MCU 1 shown inFIG. 1 and numerical values.

FIGS. 5, 5a and 5b depict a flow chart showing the operation of the codereading apparatus of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart of a code transmitting unit and a codereceiving unit.

FIG. 7 shows the correspondence relation between codes held in MCU 20shown in FIG. 1 and program control.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the control of a program chart carried out bythe MCU 20 shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 shows that program chart.

FIG. 10 illustrates examples of photographs by a second embodiment andcode portions.

FIG. 11 shows the correspondence relation between bar codes andnumerical values.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an example of the construction of anLCD driver.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing the operation regarding the display ofthe MCU.

FIGS. 14, 14a and 14b show the relation between display codes andcharacters in the MCU.

FIG. 15 shows a part of ROM of character data in the MCU.

FIG. 16 shows an example of the display on LCD.

FIG. 17 is a timing chart of a code transmitting unit and a codereceiving unit.

FIG. 18 shows the correspondence relation between codes held in the MCUand program control.

FIG. 19 shows the correspondence between the display of data in the MCUand codes.

FIG. 20 shows another example of the display on the LCD.

FIG. 21 shows an example of the control of a program chart carried outby the MCU.

FIG. 22 shows that program chart.

FIG. 23 shows another example of the display on the LCD.

FIG. 24 is a block diagram showing a third embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 25 illustrates an example of a photograph and a code portion.

FIG. 26 shows an example of the display on LCD shown in FIG. 24.

FIG. 27 shows the relation among codes, display and data in anotherembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 shows examples of the display.

FIG. 29 shows examples of the display in still another embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 30 is a block diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 31 is a perspective view showing an example of a bar code list anda code reading apparatus used to carry out the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 32 is a front view of the same code reading apparatus and a camerabody.

FIGS. 33 and 34 are cross-sectional views of a power source switch and atransmitted signal reading portion which are the fourth embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, which is a block diagram showing a first embodimentof the present invention, the reference numeral 51 designates a codereading apparatus and the reference numeral 52 denotes a camera body.

On the code reading apparatus 51 side, the reference numeral 1designates a 1-chip microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as the MCU)which effects code reading control and which is comprised of a CPU, anROM, an RAM, an IO, a serial communication interface (hereinafterreferred to as SCI) and a timer. Of the IO of the MCU 1, an input portP13 is connected to the output of a code detection circuit 3. Otherinput ports P11 and P12 are connected to switches 9 and 10,respectively, and these input ports are pulled up to a power source byresistors 13 and 14, respectively. The output port P21 of the IO of theMCU 1 is connected to the base of a transistor 6. The output port P22 ofthe SCI of the MCU 1 is connected to one input of a NOR circuit 11, andthe other input of the NOR circuit 11 is

connected to an oscillation circuit 12 of 38 KHZ, and the output thereofis connected to the base of a transistor 7. Thus, the output of the SCIis modulated at 38 KHZ and output. The collector of the transistor 6 isconnected to an infrared light emitting diode (hereinafter abbreviatedas iRED) 4. The reference numeral 5 designates a silicon photodiode(hereinafter referred to as the SPD) adapted to detect the reflectedlight from a code portion (hereinafter referred to as the bar codeportion) 18 comprised of optically readable black bars and white spacesilluminated by a light emitted by LED 4. The detection circuit 3 detectsthe output of the SPD 5, and may output a low level if the detectedoutput is a space of the bar code portion 18, and may output a highlevel if the detected output is a bar. The collector of the transistor 7is connected to the iRED 8. The reference numeral 15 denotes a powersupply battery for supplying a power source to the MCU 1, the detectioncircuit 3, the iRED 4 and iRED 8. The reference numeral 16 designates abuzzer for indicating that reading has been done accurately.

On the camera body 52 side, the reference numeral 20 denotes an MCU foreffecting the control of the camera. The MCU 20, like the MCU 1, iscomprised of a CPU, an ROM, an RAM, an IO and an SCI. The referencenumeral 21 designates an SPD designed to receive infrared light emittedfrom the iRED 8. The SPD 21 is connected to a detection circuit 22, andis adapted to output a low-level signal from an output port 22-1 onlywhen there is a signal modulated at 38 KHZ. The output port 22-1 isconnected to the input port P51 of the SCI of the MCU 20. The referencenumeral 25 denotes an SPD for measuring the luminance of an object to bephotographed. The SPD 25 is connected to an A/D converter 26, whichconverts the luminance of the object to be photographed into a digitalvalue and outputs it to P4 which is the input port of the IO of the MCU20. The input port P4 is constructed of 8 bits. The reference numeral 24designates a display LCD, and the reference numeral 23 denotes a driverfor driving the LCD 24. The driver 23 is connected to the output port P3of the IO of the MCU 20. The input port P61 of the IO of the MCU 20 isconnected to a switch 27 and is pulled up to a power source by aresistor 28. The reference numeral 29 designates the power supplybattery of the camera 52 side which supplies a power source to the MPU20, the LCD driver 23, the A/D converter 26 and the detection circuit22.

The SCI of the MCU 1 is adapted to output a non-synchronous type signalof 8 character length bits, 2 stop bits and 1 start bit, and the SCI ofthe MCU 20 is adapted to receive the signal as an input.

FIG. 2 is an appearance view of the code reading apparatus 51, thecamera body 52 and a bar code list 53, and in this figure, membersidentical to those in FIG. 1 are given identical reference numerals.

The code reading apparatus 51 is provided with two switches 9 and 10,and the iRED 4 and SPD 5 which provide a code reading portion areincorporated in one half of the apparatus and a data transmitting iRED 8is incorporated in the other half of the apparatus.

The camera body 52 is provided with a switch 27 for effecting photometryand a data receiving SPD 21.

The bar code list 53 has printed thereon bar code portions 18a and 18bcorresponding to aperture information and examples of photographs 19aand 19b corresponding thereto, and the bar code portions 18 may betraced by a code reading portion to thereby effect the reading of barcodes.

The format of the bar code portions 18 will now be described.

The bar code of the bar code portions 18 is comprised of a thin line(which is called the narrow bar), a thick line (which is called the widebar), a narrow spacing between the bars (which is called the narrowspace) and a wide spacing between the bars (which is called the widespace), and "0" is made to correspond to the narrow bar and the narrowspace, and "1" is made to correspond to the wide bar and the wide space.The ratio of width between the narrow space and the narrow bar is 1:1,and the ratio of width between the narrow bar and the wide bar is 1:3.The bar code portions 18 (18a, 18b) are shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, the bar code always starts with a combination of twonarrow bars and a narrow space (which is called the start bar), and endswith a narrow space (which is called the end bar) interposed between awide bar and a narrow bar. Data is written between the start bar and theend bar, and this data is written with five bars and five spacescorresponding thereto as a unit, and it is to be understood that each ofthem expresses a one-figure number. The arrangement order of "0" and "1"and the relation between the numbers represented thereby are shown inFIG. 4.

For example, in the bar code portion 18a shown in FIG. 3, "00110" isindicated by bars with the start bar followed by "0" as the narrow barsand "1" as the wide bars, and likewise in the space, "10001" isdisplayed. Accordingly, it is seen from FIG. 4 that the bar code portion18a of FIG. 3 is a (decimal) bar code indicative of "01" and likewise,the bar code portion 18b of FIG. 3 is a bar code indicative of "04".

The bar code reading operation will now be described with reference tothe flow chart of FIG. 5.

As previously described, when the output of the detection circuit 3,i.e., the input to the input terminal P13 of the MCU 1, is at a highlevel, the bar code portions 18 are in the state of bar, and when saidoutput is at a low level, the bar code portions 18 are in the state ofspace.

Six registers T0, T1, T2, n, D1 and D2 are prepared in the RAM in theMCU 1.

First, at a step 100, it is waited for the first bar to be found out,and at steps 101-103, the time of the first narrow bar is measured, andat steps 104 to 106, the time of the narrow space is measured, and atsteps 107 to 109, the time of the next narrow bar is measured, and 1.5times as great as the maximum value of them is used as a time T0 to beused to determine narrow or wide.

When the measurement of the time T0 by the start bar is terminated, at astep 121, a data register is cleared and the reading of data is started.

At steps 123 and 124, the time of the bar is read, and if it is greaterthan the time T0, it is judged to be "1", and the data is doubled and"1" is added thereto. If otherwise, the data is only doubled. At steps128 and 129, the time of the space is read, and if it is greater thanthe time T0, it is likewise judged to be "1", and a similar operation isperformed.

Each time a set of bar and space is read, the register n is incrementedand the reading of a bar and a space is repeated.

At steps 150 and 151, the overflow of the timer is detected. If there isan overflow, it is judged that the reading of the bars has beenterminated. If at the step 150, there occurs an overflow, it is judgedas an error, and again, operation from a, i.e., the step 100, isperformed. If at the step 151, there occurs an overflow, at a step 152,whether the termination is normal is first checked up by the number ofthe bars, and then at steps 153 and 154, the end bar is checked up, andif it is NG (not a normal termination), it is judged as an error andagain, the operation from e,crc/a/ is performed.

If the above-described check-up is all right, at steps 155 and 156, theportion corresponding to the data of the end bar, which portion is abinary expression of the data indicated by the bar code, may beeliminated and converted in accordance with FIG. 4, whereby the data ofthe bar code may be obtained. If at this time, the corresponding data isnot on the table as shown in FIG. 4, it is also judged as an error andagain, the operation from ais performed and reading is effected again.Also, when the reading could be done, the buzzer 16 is driven to effectan indication to that effect.

Description will now be made of the operation when in theabove-described construction, it is desired to express flowersbeautifully.

The photograph 19a of FIG. 3 is an example of photograph when it isdesired to express flowers beautifully, and the photograph 19b of FIG. 3is an example of photograph when it is desired to record flowers. In theformer, the aperture is selected to F4 and the depth of field is madeshallow to blur the background, whereby the beauty of the flowers isexpressed, and in the latter, the aperture is selected to F16 and thedepth of field is made deep, whereby there is provided a photograph inwhich the background can be identified to a certain degree and thesituation of photographing can be seen well.

In this case, the expression of flowers is the main purpose and thus,the photograph 19a is selected, that is, the reading of the bar codeportion 18a corresponding to the photograph 19a is effected. To effectthe reading of data, the bar code portion 18a is traced while the switch9 is depressed. When the switch 9 is depressed, the MCU 1 renders theoutput terminal P21 into a high level and renders the transistor 6conductive and therefore, the iRED 4 is turned on. At the same time, theMCU 1 effects the reading (already described) of the bar code portion18a. Here, "01" by decimal is expressed in the bar code portion 18a andtherefore, the value thereof is read in.

When the switch 10 is then depressed, the MCU 1 outputs from the SCI(output port P22) binary data "00000001" resulting from "01" having beenconverted into BCD code.

The waveform thereof is shown in FIG. 6(a). This output is modulatedinto 38 KHZ by the NOR circuit 11, and turns on the transistor 7 by awaveform as shown in FIG. 6(b), thereby turning on the iRED 8. Theinfrared light emitted from the iRED 8 is detected by the SPD 21disposed in the camera 52, is demodulated by the detection circuit 22,becomes the same signal as that of FIG. 6(a) as shown in FIG. 6(c) andis input to the SCI of the MCU 20. Thus, the MCU 20 has received data"00000001" (binary), i.e., hexadecimal "01" indicative of F4 (see FIG.7).

The MCU 20 stores this data "01" in a part M1 of the RAM containedtherein.

Here, when the switch 27 is depressed, the MCU 20 measures the luminanceof the object to be photographed from the output of the A/D converter26, and effects a calculation for determining the shutter speed (TVvalue) and the aperture value (AV value). As regards the output of theA/D converter, it is to be understood that the EV value can be intactlyread at the input port P4.

When the value of the aforementioned M1 is "06" or greater (the data ofM1 being undefined), the MCU 20 effects the normal control shown in FIG.8(1), and when the value of M1 is other than that, the MCU 20 effectsthe control shown in FIG. 8(2).

Since the value of M1 is "01" now, the MCU 20 effects the control ofFIG. 8(2). That is, for an EV value of "8" or less, the control is theaperture priority AE of an aperture F2, and for an EV value of "8" to"9", the control is the shutter speed priority AE of a shutter speed1/60 sec., and for an EV value of "9" to "15", the control is theaperture priority AE of an aperture F2.8, and for an EV value of "15" orgreater, the control is the shutter speed priority AE of a shutter speed1/4000 sec. This program chart is shown in FIG. 91. Accordingly, in therange of brightness of EV9 to EV15 (almost all cases of photographing inthe daytime being included in this range of brightness), photographingis effected at an aperture F2.8 and such a photograph as previouslydescribed (the photograph 19a) with the background blurred can be taken.

Conversely, when it is desired to take a photograph from which thesituation of photographing can be well seen, if the bar code portion 18bis traced by the reading portion, the control as shown in FIG. 92 willbe effected in a similar manner.

According to the present embodiment, a code corresponding to an exampleof a photograph at one to one and representative of aperture datasuitable for that photograph is prepared and this code is read so as tocontrol the program chart of the camera and therefore, even if one doesnot know how the aperture and the shutter speed will act on aphotograph, one can simply choose a photograph in which the best use ismade of those effects, thereby reflecting those effects on a photographto be taken. Also, the infrared light input portion is the only memberon the camera body 52 side that is necessary to carry out these andtherefore, on the part of the camera side, there is no necessity ofincreasing the display and operating members, and there is also theeffect that the operability particularly when the effects of theaperture and shutter speed need not be taken into consideration can bemade simple.

Also, these photographs and codes can be duplicated in a great quantityas by printing and the cost thereof can be correspondingly reduced.

Further, these photographs also provide materials for teaching whatexpressions can be done by the use of such camera system and therefore,can also be used for that purpose.

MODIFICATIONS

In the present embodiment, the transmission of data from the codereading apparatus 51 to the camera body 52 is done by infrared rays, butalternatively, it may be done by the wire system with the ports P22 andP51 directly connected together. In such case, the operability ofreading will be spoiled by the wire system, but the power sources, etc.can be made common and thus, the cost can be reduced. Also, the aperturevalue is changed by the data of the bar code portions 18, butalternatively, the shutter speed may be changed. Further, theinformation of the bar code portions 18 is not limited to the apertureinformation and the shutter speed information, but may also be theinformation used for the control effected prior to the photographingoperation (the exposure operation, for example), the lens focal lengthinformation or the like.

Also, in the present embodiment, bar codes are used as what representsthe aperture information corresponding to an example of a photograph,whereas the present invention is not restricted thereto, but any codemay be used if it can correspond to a photograph at one to one and canbe easily converted into an electrical signal. For example, use may bemade of coded data written on a magnetic card recently used widely andhaving photographs printed on the surface thereof.

Also, photographs (or printed matters) have been shown as an example,but anything which could be visually perceived by the photographer willdo.

For example, if the images of examples of photographs are recorded asthe images on a video tape and data similar to that of theabove-described embodiment which has been modulated at a particularfrequency is recorded on the sound portion of the video tape and thecode reading apparatus 51 is changed from the SPD to a microphone andthe detection circuit 3 is made to correspond thereto, similarphotographing can be accomplished by operating the reading apparatus 51in the portion of an image to be photographed while watching the videotape by means of a video deck.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, there areprovided detecting means for detecting a code signal from an informationreading apparatus for detecting selected information, memory meansprestoring therein a plurality of programs for effecting a plurality ofcamera operations, selecting means for selecting a program for effectinga particular camera operation, and control means for progressing thecamera operation on the basis of said selected program, whereby aprogram for effecting the camera operation necessary to take an intendedphotograph, such as a program chart or lens focal length informationcorresponding to the code signal from the information reading apparatusis automatically set and therefore, any person having no knowledge ofphotography can accomplish adequate photographing easily.

A second embodiment of the present invention will now be described.

The block diagram of the second embodiment is common to FIG. 1 andtherefore is not shown. The appearances of the code reading apparatus 51and camera body 52 are also common to FIG. 2.

On a bar code list 53, as shown in FIG. 10, there are printedphotographs 19'a and 19'b corresponding to bar code portions 18'a and18'b, respectively, and the bar code portions 18' may be traced by acode reading unit to thereby accomplish the reading of bar codes.

It is to be understood that as shown in FIG. 10, the bar code alwaysstarts with a combination (called the start bar) of two narrow bars anda narrow space and ends with a narrow space (called the end bar)interposed between a wide bar and a narrow bar. Data is written betweenthe start bar and the end bar, and this is written with five bars andfive spaces corresponding thereto as a unit, and it is to be understoodthat each of them expresses a one-figure number. The relation betweenthe arrangement order of "0" and "1" and the numbers represented therebyis shown in FIG. 11.

For example, on the bar code portion 18'a shown in FIG. 10, subsequentlyto the start bar, "00110" and "01001" are indicated by bars with thenarrow bars as "0" and the wide bars as "1", and likewise in the space,"10001" and "01001" are indicated. Accordingly, it is seen from FIG. 11that the bar code portion 18'a of FIG. 10 is a (decimal) bar codeindicative of "01" and "26" and likewise, the bar code portion 18'b ofFIG. 10 is a bar code indicative of "04" and "22".

The flow of the bar code reading operation is common to FIG. 5.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a dot matrix LCD driver 23 (see FIG.1)(this figure is a block diagram of SED1520F produced by Seiko EpsonCo., Ltd. and description will hereinafter be made of a case where saidSED1520F is used).

The present IC has a RAM for display data, and 1 bit of the RAMcorresponds to 1 pixel of LCD display, and design is made such that when"1" is written into 1 bit of the RAM, the pixel thereof is turned on andwhen "0" is written into 1 bit of the RAM, the pixel thereof is turnedoff. To write data into the RAM for display data, when data is writtenin from 8-bit data buses D0 - D7, that data may be written into the RAMand at the same time, a column address counter is automaticallyincremented by "+1", and when writing-in is then effected from the databuses, writing may be effected into an area in the RAM which neighborsthe area into which writing has been effected last.

Description will now be made of the operation of the MCU 20 when displayis effected on the LCD 24 (see FIG. 1) through such an LCD driver 23.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart when data is written into the LCD driver 23.First at a step 200, the codes of characters to be displayed are writtenin the order of display into display areas Ml, M2, . . ., Mn (it is tobe understood that n characters are displayed) on the RAM in the MCU 20.Here, as regards the codes, it is to be understood that as shown in FIG.14, data of 1 byte represents one character. On the other hand, in aportion of the ROM in the MCU 20, there is written a bit image comprisedof vertical 8 bits x horizontal 6 bits corresponding to each charactercode, as shown in FIG. 15. Here, the address offset value is the offsetvalue from the head of these data.

For example, when the display of "ABC" is to be effected, hexadecimalcodes 41H, 42H and 43H are written into the display areas M1, M2 and M3,respectively. Here, the MCU 20 first writes a bit image corresponding tothe content "41H" of M1 in the manner of the equation shown in a step202. The address "C6H" of the ROM is found, and the data "7CH" of thataddress is output from the port P3 of the MCU 20. Thereafter, the dataof "C6H" onward are output by 6 bytes in succession from the port P3.

That is, hexadecimal data 7CH, 12H, 11H, 12H, 7CH and 00H in the portionencircled by a dotted line in FIG. 15 are successively output from theport P3 to the LCD driver 23. These data are then written into thedisplay data RAM in the LCD driver 23. Accordingly, the character "A" isfirst displayed on the LCD 24. Likewise, finally "ABC" is displayed onthe LCD 24 as shown in FIG. 16.

Description will now be made of the operation when in theabove-described construction, a person is photographed.

A photograph 19'a shown in FIG. 10 is a photograph in which a person'sface is chiefly aimed at by a lens of focal length 100 mm, and aphotograph 19'b also shown in FIG. 10 is a photograph taken close to aperson by a wide angle lens of 28 mm with the background alsophotographed, and description will herein be made of a case where aphotograph chiefly of a person, like the photograph 19'a, is taken.

The photograph 19'a is selected from the bar code list 53, and in orderto read the code portion 18'a corresponding thereto, the code portion18'a is traced while the switch 9 is depressed. When the switch 9 isdepressed, the MCU 1 of the code reading apparatus 51 renders the portP21 into a high level and renders the transistor 6 conductive andtherefore, the iRED 4 is turned on. At the same time, the MCU 1 performsthe bar code reading operation (previously described). Since the codeportion 18'a is expressive of "01" and "26" (decimal), the valuesthereof are read in.

When the switch 10 is then depressed, the MCU 1 outputs from the SCLdata "00000001B" and "00100110B" obtained by "01" and "26" having beenconverted into BCD codes at each two columns.

FIG. 17(a) shows the waveform when "00000001B"is being transmitted. Thisdata is modulated into 38 KHZ by the NOR circuit 11, renders thetransistor 7 conductive by the waveform as shown in FIG. 17(b), andturns on the iRED 8. The infrared light emitted from this iRED 8 isdetected by the SPD 21, is demodulated by the detection circuit 22,becomes the same signal as the signal of FIG. 17(a) as shown in FIG.17(c) and is transmitted to the MCU 20. Thus, the MCU 20 has receiveddata "00000001B"and "00100110B" (binary), i.e., hexadecimal data "01H"(which is aperture control information as shown in FIG. 18) and data"26H" (which is information indicative the lens focal length information100 mm shown in FIG. 19).

The MCU 20 stores the first data "01H" in a portion C1 of the RAMcontained therein and stores the second data "26H" in a portion D1differing from the portion C1. In accordance with the code table of FIG.19, the MCU 20 writes data into the display RAM areas M1-M_(n) by thevalue of D1. Since D1 is "26H", the MCU 20 writes in M1=31H, A2=30H,M3=30H, M4=6DH and M5=6DH, and displays data which is the lens focallength information on the LCD 24 as shown in FIG. 20, in accordance withthe contents thereof. Thus, the photographer looks at this display,thereby performing the operation of interchanging the presently usedinterchangeable lens with an interchangeable lens capable of setting"100 mm" if the focal length of the presently used interchangeable lensis e.g. "35-75 mm".

When the switch 27 is then depressed, the MCU 20 measures the luminanceof the object to be photographed from the output of the A/D converter26, and effects a calculation for determining the shutter speed (TVvalue) and the aperture value (AV value). It is to be understood thatthe output of the A/D converter 26 is such that the EV value can be readat the input port P4 as it is.

When the value of the aforementioned M1 is "06" (see FIG. 18) or greater(the data of M1 being undefined), the MCU 20 effects the control shownin FIG. 21(1), and when the value of M1 is other than that, the MCU 20effects the control shown in FIG. 21(2).

5 Since the value of M1 is "01" now, the MCU 20 effects the control ofFIG. 20(2). That is, for an EV value of "8" or less, the control is theaperture priority AE of an aperture F2, and for an EV value of "8" to"9", the control is the shutter speed priority AE of a shutter speed1/60 sec., and for an EV value of "9" to "15", the control is theaperture priority AE of an aperture F2.8, and for an EV value of "15" orgreater, the control is the shutter speed priority AE of a shutter speed1/4000 sec. This program chart is shown in FIG. 221. Accordingly, in therange of brightness of EV9 to EV15 (almost all cases of photographing inthe daytime being included in this range of brightness), photographingis effected at an aperture F2.8 and such a photograph as previouslydescribed (the photograph 19'a) with the background blurred can betaken.

Accordingly, a program chart best suited for a photograph like thephotograph 19'a in which the chief object is a person is automaticallyselected and the focal length "100 mm" of the lens best suited forphotographing is displayed on the LCD 24 (see FIG. 20).

When the photograph 19'b is selected and the bar code 18'b is traced,the focal length "28 mm"shown in FIG. 23 is displayed on the LCD 24.Thus, the photographer can know the lens focal length informationnecessary for the intended photographing.

FIG. 24 shows a block diagram of a third embodiment of the presentinvention. A motor 30 is adapted to be driven by a bridge circuitcomprised of transistors 31, 32, 33 and 34, and these transistors aresimilar to those in the block diagram of FIG. 1 in the other points thanthat they are controlled by the output ports P61, P62, P63 and P64 ofthe MCU 20, and perform similar operations.

The motor 30 is designed to operate the zoom construction (not shown) ofthe lens, and the MCU 20 displays the focal length information of thelens as previously described and at the same time, drives the motor 30so that the focal length of the lens may coincide with the displayedvalue, thereby effecting zooming.

Accordingly, photographing at a focal length best suited for thephotographing is automatically effected.

According to the present embodiment, a bar code list corresponding to anexample of photograph at one to one and representative of thecorrespondence relation between codes representative of apertureinformation suitable for that photograph and lens focal lengthinformation necessary for the photographing, and the codes may be readtherefrom to control the program chart of the camera and also displaythe information of the lens or the like necessary for photographing andtherefore, the photographer can take photographs even if he has noknowledge or experience about photography. Also, these photographs andcodes can be duplicated in a great quantity as by printing and the costthereof can be corresponding reduced.

These photographs also provide materials for teaching what expressionscan be done by the use of such camera system and therefore, can also beused for that purpose.

MODIFICATIONS

In the second and third embodiments, the transmission of data from thecode reading apparatus 51 to the camera body 52 is done by infraredrays, but alternatively, it may be done by the wire system with theports P22 and P51 directly connected together. In such case, theoperability of reading will be reduced by the wire system, but the powersources, etc. can be made common and thus the cost can be reduced.

Also, in the second and third embodiments, bar codes are used as whatrepresents the photographing data based on the examples of photographs,whereas the present invention is not restricted thereto, but any codemay be used if it can correspond to a photograph at one to one and canbe easily converted into an electrical signal. For example, use may bemade of coded data written on a magnetic card recently used widely andhaving photographs printed on the surface thereof.

Also, photographs (or printed matters) have been shown as an example,but anything which could be visually perceived by the photographer willdo. For example, if the images of examples of photographs are recordedas the images on a video tape and data similar to that of theabove-described embodiments which has been modulated at a particularfrequency is recorded on the sound portion of the video tape and thereading apparatus 51 is changed from the SPD to a microphone and thedetection circuit 3 is made to correspond thereto, similar photographingcan be accomplished by operating the reading apparatus 51 in the portionof an image to be photographed while watching the video tape by means ofa video deck.

Further, on the code portions 18, there are recorded codesrepresentative of the information set before photographing such asaperture information and shutter speed information and display codesrepresentative of the information of the photographing machine parts tobe used (depending on the lens focal length information), i.e.,preparatory photographing information, but these are not restrictive.For example, as regards the information of the photographing machineparts in the preparatory photographing information, information meaningthe use of a tripod and information meaning the use of a strobo devicemay be coded.

The photograph 19c of FIG. 25 is a photograph of a night view, and totake such a photograph, a tripod is indispensable to prevent camerashake. So, if a code indicative of the display of "TRIPOD" as shown inFIG. 26 is added to the bar code portion 18c, a display for calling uponthe photographer to use a tipod will be done when the bar code is readby such a photograph.

Further, in the second and third embodiments, the information includedin the code portion is the lens focal length information and theinformation of the photographing machine parts, but alternatively, itmay be the name or the like indicative of the substance of the read barcode. For example, as shown in FIG. 27, if names are determined anddesign is made such that they are displayed, such a display as 301 inFIG. 28 will be effected if "30H" is included in the code. If thesubstance of this is printed simultaneously with the bar codes, it canbe confirmed that the setting of data to the camera has been reliablyeffected.

The name in this case may be, for example, a numeral (a numeralindicative of the order of the bar code) or may be a combination of aname and a numeral. If in this case, the kinds of the bar codes are verymany, it is not necessary to have a code table corresponding to all ofthem and therefore, a number of bar codes can be coped with withoutincreasing the amount of data in the MCU 20.

Furthermore, in the second and third embodiments, the display of theinformation included in the code has been effected, but alternatively,the set state of the camera may be detected and display may be effectedfrom the information thereof and the information included in the code.

That is, if the focal length (the actually set value) of the lens isread and that value is compared with the data included in the code andthe display as shown in FIG. 29 is effected as a result, the user can bewarned so as not to forget to set the optimum focal length of the lens.Herein, both of the detected focal length and the focal length includedin the code are displayed, but alternatively, it may only be displayedthat the two focal lengths differ from each other.

Such warning display may be effected not only of the focal length, butalso of other information.

Referring now to FIG. 30 which is a block diagram showing a fourthembodiment of the present invention, the reference numeral 51 designatesa code reading apparatus and the reference numeral 52 denotes a camerabody.

On the code reading apparatus 51 side, the reference numeral 301designates a 1-chip microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as the MCU)for effecting code reading control. The MCU 301 is comprised of a CPU,an ROM, an RAM, an IO, a serial communication interface (hereinafterreferred to as the SCI) and a timer. Of the IO of the MCU 301, an inputport P13 is connected to the output of a detection circuit for detectingcodes, which circuit will be described later. Other input ports P11 andP12 are connected to switches 309 and 310, respectively, and these inputports are pulled up to a power source by resistors 313 and 314. Theoutput port P21 of the IO of the MCU 301 is connected to one input of anOR circuit 316. The output port P22 of the SCI of the MCU 301 isconnected to one input of a NOR circuit 311, and the other input of theNOR circuit 311 is connected to an oscillation circuit 312 of 38 KHZ,the output of which provides the other input of the OR circuit 316, andthe output of the OR circuit 316 is connected to the base of atransistor which will be described later. Accordingly, the output fromthe output port P22 of the SCI may be put out as a signal modulated at38 KHZ.

The reference numeral 305 designates a silicon photodiode (hereinafterreferred to as the SPD) adapted to detect the reflected light of a codeportion (hereinafter referred to as the bar code portion) 318 comprisedof optically readable black bars and white spaces illuminated by a lightemitted from an iRED 308. The reference numeral 303 denotes a detectioncircuit having therein an amplifying portion for amplifying the signallevel. The detection circuit 303 may detect the output of the SPD 305and output a low level if the detected output is that of the spaceportion of the bar code portion 318, and output a high level if thedetected output is that of the bar portion of the bar code portion 318.The reference numeral 307 designates a transistor, the collector ofwhich is connected to the iRED 308. The reference numeral 315 denotes apower supply battery for supplying a power source to the MCU 301, thedetection circuit 303, the iRED 304 and the iRED 308. The referencenumeral 317 designates a buzzer for indicating that code reading hasbeen effected properly.

On the camera 52 side, the reference numeral 320 denotes an MCU foreffecting the control of the camera. The MCU 320, like the MCU 301, iscomprised of a CPU, an ROM, an RAM, an IO and an SCI. The referencenumeral 321 designates an SPD designed to receive infrared light emittedfrom the iRED 308. The SPD 321 is connected to a detection circuit 322,which is adapted to output a low-level signal from an output port 22-1only when there is a signal modulated at 38 KHZ. The power source of thedetection circuit 322 is switched by a transistor 336, the base of whichis connected to the output port P71 of the MCU 320. The output port 22-1is connected to the input port P51 of the SCI of the MCU 320. Thereference numeral 325 denotes an SPD for measuring the luminance of anobject to be photographed. The SPD 325 is connected to an A/D converter326 for converting the luminance of the object to be photographed into adigital value and outputting the digital value to P4 which is the inputport of the IO of the MCU 320. The input port P4 is comprised of 8 bits.The reference numeral 324 designates a display LCD, and the referencenumeral 323 denotes a driver for driving the LCD 324. The driver 323 isconnected to the output port P3 of the IO of the MCU 320. The inputports P61 and P62 of the IO of the MCU 320 are connected to a switch 327and a power source switch 330, and are pulled up to the power source byresistors 328 and 331. The reference numeral 329 designates the powersupply battery of the camera 52 side. The power supply battery 329supplies the power source to the MCU 320, the LCD driver 323, the A/Dconverter 326 and the detection circuit 322.

The SCI of the MCU 301 is adapted to output a non-synchronous typesignal of 8 character length bits, 2 stop bits and 1 start bit, and theSCI of the MCU 320 is adapted to receive it as an input.

FIGS. 31 and 32 show the appearances of the code reading apparatus 51and the camera body 52, and in these figures, members identical to thosein FIG. 30 are given identical reference numerals.

The code reading apparatus 51 is provided with two switches 309 and 310,and the iRED 308 and SPD 305 which provide a code reading portion areincorporated in the tip end 338 of this apparatus. The iRED 308 is usedalso for the data transmission to the camera body 52 after code reading.

The camera body 52 is provided with a switch 327 for effectingphotometry and a data receiving SPD 321.

Bar code portions 318a and 318b and photographs 319a and 319bcorresponding thereto are printed on a bar code list 353, and bar codereading may be effected by the bar code portions 318 being traced by abar code reading portion (the tip end 338).

The format of the bar code portions 318 will now be described.

The bar code of the bar code portions 318 is comprised of a thin line(which is called the narrow bar), a thick line (which is called the widebar), a narrow spacing between the bars (which is called the narrowspace) and a wide spacing between the bars (which is called the widespace), and "0" is made to correspond to the narrow bar and the narrowspace, and "1" is made to correspond to the wide bar and the wide space.The ratio of width between the narrow space and the narrow bar is 1:1,and the ratio of width between the narrow bar and the wide bar is 1:3.

FIGS. 33 and 34 are cross-sectional views of the power source switch andthe transmitted signal reading portion of the camera body 52.

In these figures, the reference numeral 321 designates theaforementioned SPD, and the reference numeral 335 denotes a rubbercontact switch which is contacted by conductive rubber 332, 333 and 334to thereby constitute the power source switch 330 shown in FIG. 30. Thereference numeral 331 designates a key top for pushing the rubbercontact switch 335. The key top 331 is hollow and has the SPD 321incorporated therein. Further, the key top 331 is formed with anaperture for the lead portion 337 of the SPD 321.

Description will now be made of the operation when in theabove-described construction, it is desired to express flowersbeautifully.

The photograph 19a of FIG. 3 is an example of photograph when it isdesired to express flowers beautifully, and the photograph 19b of FIG. 3is an example of photograph when it is desired to record flowers. In theformer, for example, the aperture is selected to F4 and the depth offield is made shallow to blur the background, whereby the beauty of theflowers is expressed, and in the latter, for example, the aperture isselected to F16 and the depth of field is made deep, whereby there isprovided a photograph in which the background can be identified to acertain degree and the situation of photographing can be seen well.

In the case of this embodiment, the expression of flowers is the mainpurpose and thus, the photograph 19a (319a) is selected, that is, thereading of the bar code portion 18a (318a) corresponding to thephotograph 19a (319a) is effected. To effect the reading of the barcode, the bar code portion 18a (318a) is traced while the switch 309 isdepressed. When the switch 309 is depressed, the MCU 301 renders theoutput port P21 into a high level and therefore, the output of the ORcircuit 316 also assumes a high level, and the transistor 307 is turnedon and the iRED 308 is turned on.

At the same time, the MCU 301 effects the reading (already described) ofthe bar code. Here, the bar code portion 18a (318a) is expressive of"01" (decimal) and therefore, that value is read in and is once storedin the RAM in the MCU 301. When the switch 309 is opened, the MCU 301renders P21 into a low level.

Description will now be made of a case where the data held in theinternal RAM is transmitted to the camera body 52.

When the reading portion (the tip end 338) is urged against the lightreceiving portion 339 of the camera 52, as shown in FIG. 33, the key top331 is pushed and the rubber contact switch 334 is closed, that is, theswitch 330 shown in FIG. 30 is closed.

When the switch 330 is closed and the input port P62 assumes a lowlevel, the MCU 320 outputs a low level to the output port P71 and turnson the transistor 336. By the transistor 336 being turned on, the powersource is supplied to the detection circuit 322 and a state in whichreception is possible is brought about.

When the switch 310 of the code reading apparatus 51 side is thendepressed, the MCU 301 outputs from the SCI (the output port P22) binarydata "00000001" resulting from "01" having been converted into BCD code.

According to the fourth embodiment, provision is made of the switch 330adapted to be closed by the key top 331 in the light receiving portion339 being pressed by the reading portion (the tip end 338) of the codereading apparatus 51 so that only during reception, said operation maybe performed to close the power source switch of the detection circuit322 for reception having an amplifier therein and therefore, the wasteof the electric current can be avoided.

Also, it is unnecessary that the operation of the camera body 52 (suchas the closing of the power source switch) be performed in advance, andthis is preferable in the display and operation of the camera.

Further, transmission and reception are effected when the spacingbetween the transmitting portion and the receiving portion is constant,i.e., during the state of FIG. 34, and this leads to the effect that thequantity of light during the transmission can be reduced andcorrespondingly a battery of small current capacity can be used. This inturn leads to the effect that the influence of the outside light becomessmall during transmission and reception and therefore malfunctioning canbe reduced.

As described above, the fourth embodiment is provided with switch meansadapted to be changed over from one state to the other state by beingcontacted by an outside information reading apparatus, power sourceswitch closing means for closing the power source switch by detectingthe change-over of the switch means to the other state, detecting meansfor detecting a transmitted signal from said information readingapparatus, display means for displaying preliminary photographinginformation which becomes necessary when the photographing operation isstarted, memory means storing therein the correspondence relationbetween said preliminary photographing information and the signal fromsaid detecting means, and control means for selecting from said memorymeans the preliminary photographing information corresponding to thesignal from said detecting means and causing said display means todisplay said preliminary photographing information, and is also providedwith switch means adapted to be changed over from one state to the otherstate by being contacted by the outside information reading apparatus,power source switch closing means for closing the power source switch bydetecting the change-over of said switch means to the other state,detecting means for detecting a transmitted signal from said informationreading apparatus, memory means storing therein the correspondencerelation between before-photographing set information used during thepreliminary photographing operation before the photographing operationis started and the signal from said detecting means, and control meansfor selecting from said memory means the before photographing setinformation corresponding to the signal from said detecting means andprogressing the preliminary photographing operation on the basis of saidbefore-photographing set information, whereby by being contacted by theinformation reading apparatus, the power source switch is closed on thecamera side for the first time and in this state, the information fromsaid information reading apparatus is detected by the detecting meansand therefore, it becomes possible to provide a camera which does notuselessly waste the electric current and suffers little frommalfunctioning and is good in operability.

What is claimed is:
 1. A camera capable of communicating with aninformation reading and transmitting apparatus, comprising:(a) detectingmeans for detecting a signal output from the information reading andtransmitting apparatus; (b) memory means prestoring therein a pluralityof programs for effecting a plurality of camera operations to achieve adesired photographic effect; (c) selecting means for selecting aparticular program from among said plurality of programs on the basis ofthe result detected by said detecting means; and (d) control means forcontrolling the camera operations on the basis of said particularprogram selected by said selecting means.
 2. A camera according to claim1, wherein said detecting means has a light signal detecting portion fordetecting a light signal output from the information reading andtransmitting apparatus.
 3. A camera according to claim 2, wherein saidlight signal detecting portion is formed on the camera.
 4. A cameraaccording to claim 3, wherein said light signal detecting portion isprovided with a switch adapted to change its state by being contacted bythe information reading and transmitting apparatus, and said detectingmeans becomes able to perform the detecting operation by a change in thestate of said switch.
 5. A camera according to claim 1, furthercomprising display means for displaying photographing information on thebasis of the result detected by said detecting means.
 6. A cameracapable of communicating with an information reading and transmittingapparatus, comprising:(a) detecting means for detecting a signal outputfrom the information reading and transmitting apparatus; (b) displaymeans for effecting display representative of program information forcamera operation necessary when a photographing operation designed toachieve a desired photographic effect is started; (c) memory meansstoring therein the relation between the program information and theoutput signal detected from said detecting means; and (d) means forselecting from said memory means the program information correspondingto the signal detected from said detecting means and causing saiddisplay means to effect the display representative of the programinformation.
 7. A camera according to claim 6, wherein said detectingmeans has a light signal detecting portion for detecting a light signaloutput from the information reading and transmitting apparatus.
 8. Acamera according to claim 7, wherein said light signal detecting portionis formed on a sheath portion of the camera.
 9. A camera system,comprising:an information reading and transmitting apparatus; and acamera in communication with said information reading and transmittingapparatus, said camera comprising:(a) detecting means for detecting asignal output from said information reading and transmitting apparatus;(b) memory means prestoring therein a plurality of programs foreffecting a plurality of camera operations to achieve a desiredphotographic effect; (c) selecting means for selecting a particularprogram from among said plurality of programs on the basis of the resultdetected by said detecting means; and (d) control means for controllingthe camera operations on the basis of said particular program selectedby said selecting means.
 10. A camera system according to claim 9,wherein said detecting means has a light signal detecting portion fordetecting a light signal output from said information reading andtransmitting apparatus.
 11. A camera system according to claim 10,wherein said light signal detecting portion is formed on said camera.12. A camera system according to claim 9, wherein said informationreading and transmitting apparatus has bar code reading means forreading bar codes, and transmitting means for converting bar codeinformation read by said bar code reading means into a light signal andtransmitting the light signal to said camera.
 13. A camera systemaccording to claim 12, wherein said information reading and transmittingapparatus detects a first bar code disposed in proximity to a firstexample of a photograph, with a particular program capable of beingphotographed by exposure equal to that of said first example of thephotograph being stored in said memory means of said camera, and saidselecting means selects said particular program from among saidplurality of programs on the basis of the information of said first barcode.
 14. A camera system according to claim 11, wherein said lightsignal detecting portion is provided with a switch adapted to change itsstate by being contacted by said information reading and transmittingapparatus, and said detecting means becomes able to perform thedetecting operation by a change in the state of said switch.
 15. Acamera system according to claim 9, further comprising display means fordisplaying photographing information on the basis of the result detectedby said detecting means.
 16. A camera system, comprising:an informationreading and transmitting apparatus; and a camera in communication withsaid information reading and transmitting apparatus, said cameracomprising: (a) detecting means for detecting a signal output from saidinformation reading and transmitting apparatus; (b) display means foreffecting display representative of program information for cameraoperation necessary when a photographing operation designed to achieve adesired photographic result is started; (c) memory means storing thereinthe relation between the program information and the output signaldetected from said detecting means; and (d) means for selecting fromsaid memory means the program information corresponding to the signaldetected from said detecting means and causing said display means toeffect the display representative of the program information.
 17. Acamera system according to claim 16, wherein said detecting means has alight signal detecting portion for detecting a light signal output fromsaid information reading and transmitting apparatus.
 18. A camera systemaccording to claim 17, wherein said light signal detecting portion isformed on a sheath portion of said camera.
 19. A camera system accordingto claim 16, wherein said information reading and transmitting apparatushas bar code reading means for reading bar codes, and transmitting meansfor converting bar code information read by said bar code reading meansinto a light signal and transmitting the light signal to said camera.20. A camera system according to claim 19, wherein said informationreading and transmitting apparatus detects a first bar code disposed inproximity to a first example of a photograph, and the relation betweenparticular program information for enabling photographing by exposureequal to that of said first example of the photograph and said lightsignal detected by said detecting means is stored in said memory meansof said camera.